What is Anxiety?
Anxiety refers an emotional state consisting of worry, nervousness, or a sense of apprehension.
Anxiety often arises in relation to an upcoming event where the outcome is uncertain. Anxiety also arises when we feel we might not be up to doing a task. Anxiety is also commonly experienced in 'high pressure' situations, for example, prior to us making a speech or sitting an exam.
Feelings of anxiety can also arise following a stressful event, like an accident where we are left feeling shaken.
In some cases, we can become anxious without knowing the cause.
Anxiety is a body response involving a dysregulated nervous system. Your psychologist can help you learn how to calm nervous system.
Anxious feelings are usually accompanied by a number of signs and symptoms listed below.
What is Anxiety Disorder?
There are a number of different types of anxiety disorders, including:
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Agoraphobia
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Panic disorder
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Generalised anxiety disorder
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Social anxiety disorder (or social phobia)
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Specific phobia (or simple phobia)
Recently separation anxiety disorder and selective mutism have also been included under the category of anxiety disorders.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were removed from anxiety disorders. These two conditions are now recognised in the DSM-5 as separate disorders on their own.
What are Symptoms of Anxiety?
The experience of anxiety will vary from person to person. Feeling stressed, worried, and having anxious thoughts are common symptoms. Other common symptoms of anxiety include:
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Mind racing
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Sleep disturbance
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Breathing difficulties and choking
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Low frustration tolerance and anger
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Relationship difficulties
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Problems performing
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Restlessness
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Difficulty concentrating
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Avoidance behaviour
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Sexual dysfunction
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Rapid heartbeat
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Trembling or shaking
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Feeling lightheaded or faint
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Numbness or tingling sensations
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Upset stomach or nausea
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Sweating
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Increased use of substances
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Changes in eating or weight loss or gain
What Causes Anxiety?
There is no single known cause of anxiety disorders. There are a number of risk factors or triggers that may contribute. These vary between different anxiety disorders too. In general, the following factors may play a role:
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Physical health and lifestyle factors: These factors can increase our risk of developing symptoms of anxiety.
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Stress: Stressful events can trigger anxiety such as:
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Marriage breakdown,
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Work or school deadlines, and
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Financial hardship.
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Personality and thinking style: This includes patterns of behaving and thinking like:
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Expecting the worst
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Persistent negative self-talk
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Low self-esteem
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Unhelpful coping strategies (e.g., avoidance)
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Genes: Certain anxiety disorders appear to have a genetic component. Some anxiety disorders have a familial history.
Anxiety Treatments: Counselling for Anxiety
The following strategies can be used to assist people better manage their anxiety:
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Relaxation: Learning relaxation techniques helps. This includes simple breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation. Practicing such exercises regularly, is part of effective treatment for anxiety.
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Problem solving: Problem-solving skills help a person develop better insight and understanding. Problem solving enhances coping with situations. Problem solving also can help with thoughts that are making us stressed or anxious. Structured problem solving involves: identifying the problem; exploring, selecting and implementing a solution to the problem; and evaluating its helpfulness.
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Mindfulness: Mindfulness therapy, focuses on being in the moment. When in the moment, we observe the experience of anxiety, rather than surrender to the impact of the anxiety. We learn to focus on bodily sensations and thoughts that arise when we are anxious.
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This is instead of avoiding, withdrawing or fighting against these symptoms. Observing thoughts and feelings allows us to become more open and accepting of thoughts and sensations associated with anxiety. As a result we learn not to be overwhelmed by anxious feelings and thoughts. This allows us to engage more fully with life.
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Cognitive restructuring: Feelings of anxiety sometimes stem from a person's negative or unhelpful thoughts. Cognitive restructuring is a technique used by psychologists. It helps a person challenge negative thoughts and develop more helpful and constructive ways of thinking.
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Exposure therapy: Exposure therapy involves your psychologist guiding you through a series of real or imagined scenarios to confront specific fears. A gradual process of exposure allows you to learn to cope with these fears. Through practice, the anxious response decreases.
As well as the above psychological techniques, making simple changes to your lifestyle can help lower stress and anxiety.
Lifestyle changes can include:
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Regular exercise,
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Reducing or giving up alcohol and caffeine
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Engaging in enjoyable activities
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Improving skills in managing time
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Having adequate sleep.
Anxiety Psychologist Sydney
Want to know what to do when you worry too much?
Through assessment and anxiety counselling, psychologists develop an understanding of the factors that might be contributing to anxiety and worry. A therapy plan is then developed in collaboration with you. For anxiety disorders, this can involve relaxation, mindfulness, CBT, exposure therapy and other helpful strategies.
Through anxiety counselling, your psychologist will assist you make lifestyle changes. This will enhance resilience to cope better, reduce symptoms of anxiety and help you become free of worry.
Anxiety Facts
Can anxiety cause headaches?
Yes, anxiety can cause headaches due to common anxiety symptoms such as: poor sleep, muscles tension and unhealthy coping mechanisms such as increasing the use of alcohol and other substances.
Does anxiety make you tired?
Yes, anxiety can be exhausting. This is because when people are anxious they tend to engage in overthinking. They might also experience increased muscle tension and sleep poorly. All these common symptoms of anxiety can lead to increase fatigue and tiredness.
Can anxiety cause diarrhoea?
Yes, Anxiety can cause diarrhoea and constipation. This is due to anxiety being associated with changes in the central nervous system. Behavioural changes associated with anxiety such as eating more, eating 'comfort' food and not chewing properly can also impact on your digestive system.
Can anxiety make you think things that aren't true?
Anxiety can impact on your thinking. When anxious people can develop faulty thinking like catastrophising or even being more suspicious. If you think your thinking might be affected by anxiety it is best to seek professional help for an objective opinion.
If you experience anxiety or any of the common symptoms associated with anxiety then we can assist. Our psychologists will discuss and assess your symptoms with you and provide feedback on the most appropriate way to manage your anxiety.
iflow Psychology
48 Norton Street.
Leichhardt, NSW, 2040
Sydney AUSTRALIA